Temple wins Oxford’s top seat in three-way first selectman race

After a voting machine malfunction, the results are in

Bill Bittar

OXFORD —- After technical difficulties Tuesday night, townspeople stood by. A tabulator repair and hand count later, the official results were released Wednesday.

First Selectman George R. Temple and his running mate, Selectman Jeffrey Haney, won easily. They will be joined on the Board of Selectmen by newcomer Scott Flaherty, a Democrat who ran for the top seat.

Kathy Johnson, an incumbent selectman and former first selectman, who ran as an unaffiliated petitioning candidate after breaking from the Democratic Party, lost her seat.

OXFORD — First Selectman George R. Temple

Haney had 2,797 votes, Temple 2,389, Flaherty 664 and Johnson 557.

In another significant race, Planning and Zoning Commission Chairman Arnold Jensen did not win another term.

Tanya Carver, a Republican, who will fill a vacancy for two years, was unchallenged and had 2,622 votes.
Republicans had a clean sweep on the Board of Education with incumbents William M. Miller (2,351 votes), Melissa Cole (2,547) and Shelley Lacey-Castelot (2,571) returning with new members Stephen M. Kozek (2,559) and Victor Tomporowski (2,385). Christin Kimball, the lone Democrat, lost with 1,375 votes.

The Zoning Board of Appeals will have Republicans Larry K. Ellis (2,240 votes) and Brett Olbrys (2,493). Betti Hellman, a Democrat, lost with 1,161 votes.

Republicans won all three spots on the Board of Finance with incumbent chairman, Jack Kiley (2,384 votes), Jeffrey E. Grant Sr. (2,454) and Paula Jensen (2,605). John Powers, a Democrat, lost with 1,203 votes.

Town Clerk Margaret A. West, a Democrat, was cross endorsed by both political parties. Michael F. Angelini Sr., a Republican, was not challenged for treasurer, and fellow Republican, Martin I. Wing, won an uncontested seat on the Board of Assessment Appeals.